The Hardest Man to Shop For: What to Get Dad for Christmas?

That time of year is fast approaching. As soon as the calendar gets turned over to November, shoppers and shopkeepers alike will begin gearing up for the biggest buying season of the year. It's nearly Christmastime, and if you want to get a jump on the game then maybe you've already made your list. But there might be one certain individual on that list that's giving you trouble: What do you get for Dad? Throughout the history of mankind, fathers have always been the absolute hardest person to go Christmas shopping for. You might even have participated in one of the classic Dad-gift cliches: the candy-cane tie; the "#1" coffee mug; the "Where's the beef?" grilling apron. Well, this year, give it some extra thought and try a few of these personalizable ideas.

The Mix CD - This is a gift medium rarely exploited to its potential. Typically reserved for wooing potential mates or sending the message of a breakup, the music mix has long been relegated to the realm of relationships. It works very well in the gift world, however, and makes a great, personal gift for Dad during the holidays. Try a couple different kinds of mixes: one with the stuff he likes, one with the stuff you like. If your Dad is like most - and if he can tolerate your music - he'll be happy to be able to boast to his friends that he's hip and in-the-know because you made him a mix of all the latest tunes. Of course he'll spend more time listening to the one you made based on his own taste, but altogether, he'll love the gesture, and it's a gift that will get a lot of mileage.

The Live Experience - A lot of people like to take Dad out to the movies for the holidays. This can be fun: for once, Dad isn't the one forced to shell out twenty bucks for tickets and twenty bucks for popcorn and candy. The big movie production companies tend to overload the theaters with releases at this time of year, and, as a result of this fact and the fact that everyone else in the world had the idea to go to the movies, the theaters tend to get a little crowded. Try something different. Take Dad to a local sporting event, or, if you think he'd enjoy it, a play, or an orchestra concert. Or if you're feeling brave, take Dad to one of your local hangouts for a couple of beers before you catch a show at your local rock venue. Of course the potential for Dad-peer interaction here is high, so this isn't for the faint of heart. But if you're willing to take the risk, Dad would really enjoy it.

The Box Set - For some reason, fathers just seem enthralled with the idea of completion. Anything that comes as a set, anything that comes complete (and at a discounted rate, as well) seems to grab their attention. When you were a kid in need of learning, they bought encyclopedias, they bought the complete William Shakespeare, they bought, well, the complete 1986 Donruss baseball card series. Now it's time to pay them back. Contemporary and classic television shows are increasingly available on DVD format. Depending on Dad's taste, try the second season of Sanford and Son or the first four seasons of The West Wing might be great gifts. Movie sets are good too, and they're usually a good deal. Deluxe editions of the complete Lord of the Rings may be pricier, but you can probably find the whole Back to the Future series (I,II, and III) for under twenty bucks. Musical compilations can make a good gift if you know your Dad's taste. A couple of box sets feature the best work of Paul Simon, while another series is devoted to the musicians featured in Ken Burns's Jazz documentary for PBS. The soundtrack to No Direction Home, Martin Scorsese's recent documentary on the early career of Bob Dylan, is available as a two-disc set in his Bootleg series as well.

Try one of these this holiday season, and see if Dad's smile isn't just a little more authentic. Give it some serious thought, and, for everybody's sake, don't join the clothing club: Dad has enough blue fuzzy reindeer sweaters without you giving him one more. Personalize the experience, show him that it's a gift from you to him, and help Dad really remember the meaning of the season.